Two piece container incorporating nesting characteristics and including interengageable hinge supports for upwardly supporting a lid upon a base

ABSTRACT

A storage container including a lid having a rectangular shape with sides and ends defining therebetween a recessed interior, the lid including at least one resistively inter-fitting portion associated with a forward extending lip edge. A base corresponds generally in outline with the lid and includes at least one mating portion defined in an overlapping forward lip edge and which is arrayed in opposing and communicable fashion with the lid inter-fitting portion. The interfitting portions established between the lid and base are positioned opposite a rear hinged edge and provide tactile snap shut engagement of the lid and base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/530,764 filed on Sep. 11, 2006 and entitled Two Piece Container Incorporating Nesting Characteristics and Including Interengageable Hinge Supports for Upwardly Supporting a Lid upon a Base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to what is conventionally known as a hat box design. More specifically, the present invention discloses a plasticized container having a base and hingedly connected lid and which incorporates novel improvements in an interlocking arrangement established therebetween to permit the lid to be converted between an upwardly displaced and open configuration and, upon being rotated to a closed position, establishing a tactile and snap-shut configuration in order to provide secure carry-ability of its interiorly held contents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is well documented with examples of either hat box or other article holding/supporting containers. In one application, it is desirable to be able to interlock together in a stacking arrangement a plurality of item holdable containers.

First examples of such assemblies are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,772 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,350, both issued to LaMarche et al., and which teach an assembly of interconnected containers, each exhibiting an upper portion permanently connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges, and with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers having either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels preferably communicate with at least one open end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. The channels are disposed closer to each other than are the flanges. In one embodiment, the upper portion has the upper sidewalls diverging downwardly therefrom and the lower wall has a pair of lower sidewalls diverging upwardly therefrom. The containers may be transparent and molded as a unit with integrally formed hinges. Support structure may be provided within the container to support one or more articles disposed therein. Individual containers for use in such an assembly are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,270, issued to Hohnjec, teaches a two part box including, in relevant part, a lid part with a strap and a bottom part connected to the lid part at one rim by the strap acting as a hinge and including closure elements cooperating with each other to produce transverse locking of the two box parts. Handles are provided with recess fittings into each other for carrying the box and locking elements including two projecting cylindrical pins, each having an undercut and both arranged on both sides of said handle recesses, and on the opposite rim, at two cylindrical lugs each provided with a circular-shaped sharp-edged aperture to receive said pins at their undercut locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a storage container, such as in particular for a hat box, and which is an improvement over other prior art designs in that it provides for improved tactile locking engagement of a hingedly secured lid relative to an opposing and volume defining base. The lid exhibits a substantially rectangular shape, with interconnecting sides and ends defining therebetween a recessed interior. In addition to the hinged engagement with the base along a rear edge, the lid further includes a perimeter extending planar lip along the sides and interconnecting forward edge.

The base corresponds generally in outline with the lid and likewise includes a three-sided planar extending lip. A recessed interior associated with the base defines, upon downward rotation of the lid to the closed position, a volume holding enclosure. Each of the lid and base further including an integrally formed handle subset portion associated with the forward selected edges opposite those associated with the hinged support, the subset portions mating upon rotating the lid to the closed position to define a carrying handle.

In a first configuration, an outer radiused edge of the base handle lip is configured to overlap an opposingly engaging lip edge, and in order to create a resistant snap shut engagement. In a second configuration, first and second button projections and mating recess pockets portions are defined at opposing locations associated with the extending and overlapping forward lip edges of the base and lid handles and in order to establish a tactile/snap shut configuration associated with the lid and base.

Pairs of lengthwise extending and mating grooves and recesses are established in opposing fashion along the planar and sides of the lid and base. The grooves project from a first selected one of the base and lid and can include a “U” shape, “V” shape or other cross-section configured shape. Opposing lengthwise recesses establish seating of the grooves, upon closing the lid with the base, and in order to provide additional displacement preventing support of the hingedly connected lid and base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrating the tactile-snap shut arrangement of the first and second handles;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the container and better illustrating the tactile snap shut engagement of the base and hingedly secured lid;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion 4-4 of the interengaging handles in FIG. 3 and illustrating the base handle lip being configured with a larger radius than the corresponding and opposingly engaging lip in order to create resistant snap shut engagement;

FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective of the container base;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion 5-5 of the base handle in FIG. 5 and, when viewed in combination with FIG. 4, illustrating the tactile engaging profile configuration of the base handle portion;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and showing the tactile and resistive fitting interengagement established between the inwardly projecting lip handle edge and corresponding larger dimensioned base handle;

FIG. 8 is an illustration similar to FIG. 1 of a container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrating first and second button projections and mating recess pocket portions defined at first and second forward extending and overlapping lip edges associated with the base and lid handles and in order to establish a tactile/snap shut configuration associated with the lid and base;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the container shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of the container of FIG. 8 and better illustrating the tactile snap shut engagement of the base and hingedly secured lid;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged illustration taken along portion 11-11 of FIG. 10 and illustrating a selected button-shaped pocket configuration associated with the base; and

FIG. 12 is a cutaway illustration of the resistive fit engagement established between a selected and downwardly projecting button portion of the lid and resistive inter-fitting base configured pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a series of top plan, front plant and perspective view are shown of a container 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention and which, as previously described, illustrates a tactile-snap shut arrangement of first and second associated handles. The assembled top/front plan and perspective views, each illustrated at 10, are of a hinged item holding container assembly, typically a hat box configuration, and which in particular discloses a generally rectangular shaped lid 12 and a similarly configured and hingedly secured base 14. Each of the lid and base are, in one variant, constructed of a plasticized material produced from such as a vacuum forming or, potentially, an injection molding process, although it is further contemplated that other material constructions can be employed and which exhibit the necessary properties of tactile ductility, strength and durability.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the lid 12 and base 14 exhibit a rectangular configuration (although it is contemplated that any suitable and polygonal shaped article is contemplated) with four interconnecting sides and ends which bound a recessed and volume defining interior. In particular, the lid 12 includes sides 16 and 18 and interconnecting ends 20 and 22. Concurrently, the base 14 includes sides 24 and 26 (see as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and interconnecting ends 28 and 30.

A rear hinged connection 32 is established between the lid 12 and base 14 and, in practice, establishes such as a living hinge in order to provide repeated opening and closing cycles without material deformation or failure of the hinge. It is also envisioned that lid and base can be provided as first and second assembleable halves and which incorporate any suitable hinge or interlocking closure arrangement.

The lid 12 further includes a recessed interior surface 34 and the base 14 likewise includes a corresponding surface 36. Each of the sides and ends of the lid 12 further include outer perimeter defining and planar/flattened lips, these being referenced along opposite sides 38 and 40 and interconnecting forward edge 42. The sides and forward end of the base 14 concurrently include outer perimeter defining and flattened edges, as respectively shown at sides 44 and 46 and forward edge 48, these opposing the corresponding edges 38, 40 and 42 of the lid in the closed and slid/snap shut configuration as will be subsequently described.

A first handle 50 is configured into the forward extending edge 42 of the lid 12, whereas a mating handle 52 (best shown in FIGS. 5-7) is integrally configured in the forward extending edge 48 of the base 14. FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of portion 4-4 of the interengaging handles in FIG. 3 and, as will be further discussed, illustrates the tactile and snap shut configuration of the handles 50 and 52 upon being biasingly engaged together.

As will be best described in reference to succeeding illustrations FIGS. 5-7, the base handle 52 projects upwardly from the associated forward planar edge 48 and defines an inner perimeter extending hand bold profile 54, as well as an opposite outer perimeter extending profile 56. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer profile 56 exhibits an annular extending protuberance and which is dimensioned with a radius edge slightly overlapping (greater than) a corresponding inner annular extending lip 58 (again FIG. 7) associated with the outwardly overlapping handle 50. Upon rotating the lid 12 to a substantially overlaying and closed position relative to the base 14, an additional degree of downward pressure applied to the lid 12 causes its inner annular extending handle lip edge 58 to biasingly depress against the opposing outer protuberant surface of the base handle profile 56 and, following the lip edge 58 depressingly seating over the opposing outer profile protuberant surface 56, to seat in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket 60 (again FIG. 7) associated with the base handle 52, thereby creating the resistant snap shut engagement.

Pairs of lengthwise extending and mating grooves and recesses are established in opposing fashion along the planar and sides of the lid and base. Although easily reversible, the grooves 62 and 64 are illustrated projecting from the lid 12 and can include a “U” shape, “V” shape or other cross-section configured shape.

Opposing lengthwise recesses 66 and 68 defined in the upwardly facing surfaces of the base portion planar sides 44 and 46 establish seating of the grooves 62 and 64 and, upon closing the lid with the base, provide additional displacement preventing support of the hingedly connected lid and base. As best further illustrated in each of FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more lengthwise extending and recessed channels, see at 70, 72, 74, et seq., are defined in the base surface 34 of the lid 12 and which constitute a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions between individual container assemblies.

Corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surfaces, see at 76 and 78 in FIGS. 2 and 5, are associated with the underside base surface 36. The location and configuration of the lid recess channels and base recessed exterior surfaces and such that, upon providing a plurality of individual containers, each pair of base defined surface 76 and 78 are typically provided as a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of the recessed lid surfaces 70, 72, 74, further such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.

FIGS. 8-13 collectively illustrate a container according to a second preferred embodiment 80 of the present invention and illustrating first and second button projections 82 and 84 and mating recess pocket portions 86 and 88 defined at first and second forward extending and overlapping planar edge 42 and 44 locations associated with the lid 12 and base 14, respectively, and in order to establish a tactile/snap shut configuration associated with the lid and base. The container configuration of FIG. 8 is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that the tactile/snap shut interengaging portions associated with the handles in the first embodiment are substituted by a pair of identically configured and opposing edge mating handles 50′ and 52′, the handles being separate from a pair of laterally offset and arranged button and recess pockets defined between the lid and base lip edges and establishing the desired tactile/snap shut engagement. It is also understood that a preferred variant can incorporate both the tactile handle engagement profile of FIG. 1, in combination with the button and recess pocket of FIG. 8 and as will be subsequently described. Accordingly, identical features in the embodiment of FIGS. 8-13 (aside from the modified handle portions 50′ and 52′) are identically enumerated in comparison to those shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7.

As best shown in the enlarged illustration of FIG. 11, taken along portion 11-11 of FIG. 10, as well as the cutaway partial view of FIG. 12, illustrated is a selected lid 12 extending button-shaped projection 82 in its tactile snap shut engagement with a corresponding recessed pocket 86 configuration associated with the base 14. As best shown in the exploded illustration of FIG. 13 (and by which the rear portions defining the living hinge 32 are separated), the button shaped projections 82 and 84 are integrally formed within the forward lip 42 of the lid 12 and project downwardly. The button projections 82 and 84 are further illustrated as substantially rectangular in shape with rounded interconnecting edges (see also FIG. 11) although it is further understood that the button projections can adopt some other cross sectional profile within the scope of the invention.

Referring again to FIG. 12, the downward displacement of the illustrated button projection 82 causes at least one biasing overlap, at zone 89, with its opposing recessed pocket 86. The pockets 86 and 88 each exhibit a similar recessed and four-sided pocket in comparison to the opposing configuration of the projections 82 and 84. Similar to the biasing nature of the handle 50 and 52 in FIG. 1, downward displacement of the lid 12 against the base 14 results in this zone of overlap causing the button projections 82 and 84 to biasingly displace against and resistively inter-fit with the recess pockets 86 and 88 and, by virtue of a reverse angled taper established between the overlapping walls 90 and 92 (FIG. 12) along the contact zone 89 established between the button and pocket, and in order to resistively interengage in a tactile and snap-shut fashion.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which is pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A two piece storage container, comprising: a multi-sided lid with interconnecting sides and ends defining a recessed interior; a multi-sided base corresponding generally in outline with said lid and being hingedly connected thereto along a rear edge; each of said lid and base further exhibiting at least a forward extending planar lip edge arranged in overlapping alignment upon displacing said lid against said base; and resistively inter-fitting portions integrally formed in opposing fashion at specified locations associated with said lip edges and, upon pivoting said lid against said base engaging in a tactile and snap-shut fashion.
 2. The container as described in claim 1, each of the lid and base further comprising an integrally formed handle portion associated with said forward planar lip edge, handle portions mating upon rotating the lid to the closed position to define a carrying handle.
 3. The container as described in claim 2, further comprising a base handle projecting upwardly from said associated forward planar edge and defining an inner perimeter extending hand hold profile, an opposite outer perimeter extending profile exhibiting an annular extending protuberance and which is dimensioned with a radius edge overlapping a corresponding inner annular extending lip associated with a lid handle and causing said lid handle to biasingly depress against the opposing outer protuberant surface of said base handle profile, seating said lid handle in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket associated with said base handle.
 4. The container as described in claim 2, each of said lid and said base further comprising a perimeter extending planar lip along first and second sides and interconnecting forward edge.
 5. The container as described in claim 4, further comprising first and second button projections extending downwardly from intermediate locations of said lid planar lip edge an outwardly spaced lateral distance from said handle portion, mating recess pockets portions being defined in said base lip edge, opposing walls associated with each of said button projections and mating pockets establishing an overlapping and reverse angled taper.
 6. The container as described in claim 1, each of said lid and base exhibiting a selected shape and size and further comprising a plasticized material produced from at least one of a vacuum forming or injection molding process.
 7. The container as described in claim 1, each of said lid and base defining a substantially rectangular shaped body with four interconnecting side edges bounding said recessed interiors.
 8. The container as described in claim 4, further comprising lengthwise extending and slidably interengaging portions associated with opposing surfaces of said planar extending lips.
 9. The container as described in claim 8, further comprising a first selected one of lengthwise extending grooves and recesses defined in a first of said planar extending lip edges, a second and other selected one of said grooves and recesses being defined in a second opposing planar lip edge and such that said grooves seat within said recesses.
 10. The container as described in claim 1, a lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said lid further comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions, a corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said base further comprising at least a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of said recessed lid surface portions such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.
 11. A two piece storage container, comprising: a multi-sided lid with interconnecting sides and ends defining a recessed interior; a multi-sided base corresponding generally in outline with said lid and being hingedly connected thereto along a rear edge; each of said lid and said base further comprising a perimeter extending planar lip along first and second sides and interconnecting forward edge and which are arranged in overlapping alignment upon displacing said lid against said base; and a base handle projecting upwardly from said associated forward planar edge and defining an inner perimeter extending hand hold profile, an opposite outer perimeter extending profile exhibiting an annular extending protuberance and which is dimensioned with a radius edge overlapping a corresponding inner annular extending lip associated with a lid handle and causing said lid handle to biasingly depress against the opposing outer protuberant surface of said base handle profile, seating said lid handle in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket associated with said base handle.
 12. The container as described in claim 11, each of said lid and base exhibiting a selected shape and size and further comprising a plasticized material produced from at least one of a vacuum forming or injection molding process.
 13. The container as described in claim 11, each of said lid and base defining a substantially rectangular shaped body with four interconnecting side edges bounding said recessed interiors.
 14. The container as described in claim 11, further comprising lengthwise extending and slidably interengaging portions associated with opposing sides of said planar extending lips.
 15. The container as described in claim 14, further comprising a first selected one of lengthwise extending grooves and recesses defined in a first of said planar extending lip edges, a second and other selected one of said grooves and recesses being defined in a second opposing planar lip edge and such that said grooves seat within said recesses.
 16. The container as described in claim 11, a lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said lid further comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions, a corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said base further comprising at least a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of said recessed lid surface portions such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.
 17. A two piece storage container, comprising: a multi-sided lid with interconnecting sides and ends defining a recessed interior; a multi-sided base corresponding generally in outline with said lid and being hingedly connected thereto along a rear edge; each of said lid and said base further comprising a perimeter extending planar lip along first and second sides and interconnecting forward edge and which are arranged in overlapping alignment upon displacing said lid against said base; and first and second button projections extending downwardly from intermediate locations of said lid planar lip edge an outwardly spaced lateral distance from said handle portion, mating recess pockets portions being defined in said base lip edge, opposing walls associated with each of said button projections and mating pockets establishing an overlapping and reverse angled taper seating said lid handle in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket associated with said base handle.
 18. The container as described in claim 17, further comprising lengthwise extending and slidably interengaging portions associated with opposing sides of said planar extending lips.
 19. The container as described in claim 18, further comprising a first selected one of lengthwise extending grooves and recesses defined in a first of said planar extending lip edges, a second and other selected one of said grooves and recesses being defined in a second opposing planar lip edge and such that said grooves seat within said recesses.
 20. The container as described in claim 17, a lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said lid further comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions, a corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said base further comprising at least a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of said recessed lid surface portions such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container. 